Alarm-clock attachment for electrical connecters



March 3, 1931. A, Q ALVES 1,794,820

ALARM CLOCK ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTERS Filed June 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n venior jZfm-d (mm Q By @h A iiomey March 3, 1931. A c ALVES 1,794,820

ALARM CLOCK ATTACHMENT FOR-ELECTRICAL CONNECTERS Filed June 21, 19 29 2 $heets-$heet 2 Inventor Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED CHARLES ALVES, or 'SAN A-N'roNI aexAs, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF T r. H. LONG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ALARM-CLOCK ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRICAL iCONNECTERS Application filed June 21, #1928. :Serial No. 372,105.

This invention relates ,to alarm clocks and has more particular reference to electrical .connections for the alarm clocks for controlling ,mechanism apart from the clock.

The mainobject of the invention is, therefore, .to provide .a mechanism, in combination with,analarm clock, with. means whereby the predetermined operation of the alarm clock may be utilized to control electric energy 1a imparted to some remote object, such, for example, as an electric light, cooking stove, cooking utensils, .or other like devices operated through the medium-of electricity.

Another very important object of the inrention is to provide an attachment for alarm clocks of this nature, which is simple in con struction, practical, reliable, positive in action, inexpensive, strong, durable, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended.

.Other objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparentduning a study of .the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an alarm clock showing the application of the preferred embodiment of this invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, and showing 39 parts broken away to clearly illustrate the means for 'opening the switch mechanism associated with the clock, the contact members beingshown in engagement with one another.

Figure 3 is a "16" similarto Figure 2, and

* showingthe contact members in engagement with one another, upon actuation of the alarm.

Figure 4. is a fragmentary side elevation of the clock, showing in dotted lines the posi- 0 tion of the lever on the outside switch or contact member, when the contact members are in the position shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation and illustrating the position of contact members corresponding to that of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal transverse view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figare .5.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the plunger member.

With reference more in detail to the draw i-ngs, it will be seen that the reference character 5 denotesan alarnrclock of conventional construction. To one side of .the clock and I extendin through the peripheral wall of the clock is a small cylinder 6, the inner end of which cylinder communicates with the interior of the clock and this cylinder is .ze welded or otherwise secured .to said wall as at 7. As illustrated the cylinder 6 extends upwardlyand outwardly from said wall and is disposedwithin said wall adjacent the alarm spring 8, on the alarm winding stem :25 v9 of the clock. Slidable in the cylinder 6 is a plunger rod 10, provided at its outer end with an enlarged head 11, and it will be seen that this plunger is of such a length ,as to have its inner .end adapted for rest on the to wind spring v,8, when the plunger .is in a retracted position within the cylinder 6.

Fixed to the same side of the clock and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom .at a pointspaced beneath the cylinder 6 is an insulated switch supporting member 12. The member 12 maybe of porcelain or suitable light material and is fixed tothe peripheral wa'llof the clock through .the medium of ,a screw bolt 13 or similar fastening element. :11)

From the top intermediate portion of the member 12 there rises a spring contact member 14, and as illustrated .the contact member 14 extends upwardly beyond the cylinder 6 and in spaced operative relation to the outer end o'f'said cylinder. From the outer end of the switch supporting member 12 is a second switcher contact member 15, which extends in spaced parallelism to the member 14. An electrical connector 16 has a bolt 17 J passing through one end thereof and through the lower end of the contact member 114: for screw threaded engagement with the member 12, thereby providing means for maintaining through the medium of the bolt 17, a;

the contact ,mem'ber 14, in place upon the switch support 12. A similar electrical connecter 18 has the bolt .19 passing through one end thereof and vthrough the lower end of the contact member 15 for threaded engage- 1 ment with the portion 12 and thus serving to maintain the contact member 15 fixed to the porcelain. A suitable electrical cord has its electrical conductors 21, connected to the connecter members 16 and 18, in any suitable and well known manner. The said conductors have suitable electrical connection as at 23 with the electrical conductor cords '24; and 25, said last mentioned cord being end of the apertures 26, so that the plates 27 may be moved to a position as shown in Figure 5 for uncovering the aperture. The spring like member 28, has one endthereof pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the contact member 15, this spring being disposed along the inner face and at the upper portion of the said contact 15, in opposed relation to the apertured portion of the contact 14.

When in a position shown in Figure 2, the spring-like member 28 is adapted to contact a with the upper portion or end of the contact 14, for closing the circuit in a manner to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In practice, the electrical cord 24 will have a suitable socket attached to its outer. end (not shown), whereby to attach the same to a suitable source of electrical energy. The

electric light cord 25 will, of course, have a plug on its end to facilitate its attachment end of the plunger rod 10 rests on the wound Figures 2 a1id3.

Eli

to an electric 'lamp in the usual manner. \Vhen the alarm spring 8 is wound upon the stem 9 and the clock has been set whereby the alarm is to go off at a given hour, the inner spring'8. It is to be seen that the electric light (not shown) will be turned on when the alarm goes off. The member 28 on the outer contact member 15 is then swung downwardlyor to that position shownin dotted lines in Figure 4 and the plate 27 on the inner contact 1.4 is disposed in a raised position for covering or closing theopening 26, formed in said contact member as shown in Obviously when the members 27 and 28 are in the position just mentioned, the upper ends of the respective contact members will be. disposed in a sufficient spaced relation. As the spring 8 will unwind itself so as to operate the alarm mecha nism of the clock in the usual manner,*it will be seen that-the plunger rod 10 will be actuatedby the expanding action of the said spring, said 'rod being thereby forced outwardly of the cylinder 6, the head 11 of the plunger coming into contact with the plate 27, and thus forcing or urging the contact I member 14 at its upper end in contact with the said contact member 15, thereby operating the switch for closing the circuit and lighting the electric light. In this connection, it might be well to mention that the alarm E is turned to the right in setting the alarm.

If it is desired that the electric light be left burning so as to be extinguished when the alarm goes off, the plate 27 is then turned downwardly or to that position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, thus exposing the opening 26. The spring member 28 is then swung upwardly so as to extend in parallelism with the upper end of the contact mem ber 16, the upper end of the member 28 contacting with the adjacent end of the contact member 14, for closing the circuit to the light, the switch then being in what may be termed an on position. Thus it will'be seen that at the hour set, when the alarm goes off, and the plunger 10 actuated in the man ner before described, the head of the plunger will, extend through the opening in the contact member 14 to engage with the member '28, thus forcing'the contact 15 outwardly and away from the contact 14, whereupon ObVlously the circuit to the lamp will be broken and the lamp consequently extinguished.

From the foregoing then, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple, yet thoroughly practical and reliable attachment for alarm clocks especially adaptable for use in connection with electric lights, whereby the said lights may be either lighted or extinguished as may be desired in a time controlled manner and through the medium of an alarm mechanism of an alarm clock of conventional construction.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a device of this nature is positive in operation, may be used in connection with the clock and an electric lamp in a simple and inexpensive manner and is otherwise well adapted for the purpose designed.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferredembodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. 7

lVhat is claimed is:

'1. The combination of an alarm clock embodying an-alarm winding spring, of a pair of contact members, a rod slidable in .the peripheral wall of the clock and disposed in operative relation to one of said contact momhers, said rod having its inner end adapted for rest upon the said alarm spring, whereby upon the expansion of the alarm spring said plunger will be forced exteriorly of the easing for contact with said one contact member for urging the contact members together for closingthe circuit.

2. In combination, an alarm clock embodying an alarm winding spring, of a pair of electrical contact members to one side of the clock, a cylinder projecting outwardly from the peripheral wall of the clock, and having communication with the interior of the clock, a plunger rod slidable in the cylinder, said rod having its inner end adapted for rest upon said winding spring, the outer end of said plunger rod being disposed in operative relation with respect to said contact members, one of said contact members being apertured, and a plate pivotally carried by said one contact member for closing said aperture.

3. In a device of the class described, an electric circuit embodying a pair of contact members, one of said contact members being apertured, a plate pivotally mounted on said one contact member for closing said aperture, a cylinder, a plunger rod slidable in the cylinder and disposed in operative relation to said contact members; and time control means For operating the plunger whereby said contact members may be moved into or out oi contacting relation for closing or opening the circuit. 7

4. A circuit maker and breaker comprising a pair of relatively fixed spaced apart contact members, a member pivoted to one of said contact members and adapted to be swung to a position for engagingthe other of said contact members for bridging the space between said contact members.

A time piece having, in combination, an alarm mechanism, a pair of normally spaced apart resilient contact members carried by said time piece, a member pivotally carried by one of said contact members for bridging the space between said contact members to close an electrical circuit, and means operable upon actuation of the alarm mechanism for engagement with said contact memher for moving said pivoted member out of engagement with the other of said contact members for breaking the circuit.

6. A time piece having, in combination, an alarm mechanism, a pair of normally spaced apart resilient contact members carried by said time piece, a member pivotally carried by one of said contact members for bridging the space between said contact members to close an electrical circuit, and means operable upon actuation of the alarm mechauism for engagement with said contact member for moving said pivoted member out of engagement with the other of said contact members for breaking the circuit, said other of said contact members being apertured, a plate pivotally carried by said other of said contact members for normally closing said aperture, when the first referred member carried by said one contact member is moved to a position out of engagement with said other contact member, whereby said alarm actuated means is adapted to engage said plates for moving said. contact members into en gagement with one another, for closing a circuit.

7. A circuit maker and breaker comprising a pair of relatively fixed normally spaced apart flexible contact members, one of said contact members provided with a member pivotally secured thereto, and adapted to be swung to a position for en aging the other of said contact members, or bridging the space between said contact members, said other of said contact members being apertured, a movable member adapted to be projected through said aperture for engaging the first referred to contact member for moving said pivoted member out of engagement with said apertured contact member, a plate pivotally supported on said apertured contact member for closing said aperture when the first referred to pivoted member is in position out of engagement with said apertured contact member, whereby said movable member may be moved into engagement with said plate for moving said ape-rtured contact member into engagement with the first referred to contact member, and means for actuating said movable member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALFRED CHARLES ALVES. 

